GRIEF SUPPORT

Bear one another’s burdens and fulfill the law of Christ.
-Galatians 6:2

Please note that Grief Ministry will now be meeting at 5:00 p.m.
in the church parlor on the second Thursday of each month.

Grief Support is an outreach ministry to those who have lost a loved one through death. Grief Support is offered to members and visitors of Germantown Presbyterian Church as well as to nonmembers who live within Shelby County and North Mississippi. One-on-one sessions are also available for those for whom the group setting is not workable and are scheduled at a time and day that works for the individual.

Although this ministry is not professional counseling or therapy, it is an opportunity for those who are going through the grief and bereavement journey, to gain comfort, encouragement, and support. Grieving is the normal expression of sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one, and no one has to walk through this journey alone.

Grief Support seeks to move participants from isolation into participating more fully in life after a significant loss occurs. Types of loss vary, but those who are bereaved may have similar emotions and experiences which can be shared in a group setting led by a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist and others trained in grief support. The group meetings as well as one-on-one sessions provide support, care, and encouragement and can lead healing.

Grief support group sessions are conducted by facilitators to discuss aspects of the grief journey, to gain new insights into grieving and to become equipped with skills for navigating this journey. Whether in the group or one-on-one setting, participants can expect complete confidentiality through the course of their participation.

Grief is the price we pay for love and the only way to get through grief is to grieve. Doing so alongside others on this journey (or individually) with trained leadership gives participants strength and hope that light will eventually shine through their darkness. Walking through grief is not easy, but facing our grief and working through it helps us define our “new normal,” who we are now and who we can become. We will never forget our loves ones, but we can learn to walk in this world without them by our side and we can eventually move from surviving to thriving.

To Participate or Learn More:

Please prayerfully consider participating in this ministry which seeks to help when you have lost a loved one.

There is a $50 fee for each private grief counseling session with Stephanie Wall, GPC Bereavement Specialist & Certified Grief Counselor. The fee, payable to Germantown Presbyterian Church (earmarked Grief Counseling), may be paid at the time of the counseling sessions, or the church will mail an invoice to the client. It is the desire of GPC to provide grief support and counseling to all who seek help. In the event that the fee presents a difficulty, a sliding scale fee discount is available (please speak to Stephanie Wall). 

Contacts: Stephanie Wall, Certified Grief Counselor, American Academy of Grief Counseling and Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, Grief Recovery Institute, Beth Brock or Linda Oakes